Needle and needle-guide actuating mechanism for sewing-machines



E. ERICKSON.

NEEDLE AND NEEDLE GUIDE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES.APPLICATION FILFD DfC- 4, I9I9.

1 ,364,260, Patented Jan. 4, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

- li'wenior: l'dward Erzjchw n,

E. ERICKSON.

NEEDLE AND NEEDLE GUIDE ACTUATING MECHANISM FOR SEWtNG MACHINES.APPLICATION FILED DECJ, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

121167110 1' Edward Erickso w,

Patented Jan. 4, 1921..

UNITEQ ETAT'flii PATENT QFFlfiE.

EDWARD ERICKSON, OE LYNN, MASSACHUSETT2, ASSIGNOB TO VICTOR SHOEIMAUHINERY GUMPANY, 015 LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OFMASSACHUSETTS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. a, 1921.

Application filed December a, 1919. Serial No. 343,084.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD Enronson, a subject of the Republic ofFinland, and a resident of Lynn, in the county of Essex and Commonwealthof Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inNeedle and NeedleGuide Actuating Mechanism for Sewinghiachines, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to needle guide mechanisms for sh0e-sewingmachines and has for its object the production of means for actuatingthe needle guide positively by the same instrumentalities which actuatethe needle whereby a positive relation is maintained at all timesbetween the movements of said needle and guide.

The invention consists of certain novel features of construction andarrangement of parts which will be understood readily by reference tothe description of the drawings and to the claims to be hereinaftergiven.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, one preferred formthereof is illustrated in the drawings, this form having been found togive satisfactory and reliable results although it is to be understoodthat the various instrumentalities of which the invention consists canbe variously arranged and organized, and the invention is not limited tothe precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities asherein shown and described, except as required by the scope of theappended claims.

Of the drawings- Figure 1 represents an elevation of a shoe-sewingmachine embodying the principles of the present invention.

Fig. 2 represents a vertical section of a portion of said machine, and

Figs. 3 to 5 represent diagrams showing the three consecutive positionsassumed by the needle, needle guide, and needle guide actuatingmechanism during the operation of the machine.

Similar characters indicate like parts throughout the several figures ofthe drawin s.

Tn the drawings, 10 is the base of the machine adaptedto be secured to acolumn and having end frames 11 provided with bearings for the revolubleshaft 12.

This revoluble shaft 12 has secured thereto, a cam disk 13.

To one of the side frames 11 is secured a work support 1% which may beof any well known construction.

One of the side frames 11 has also mounted thereon, a shuttle and meansfor operatmg same.

As the shuttle forms no part of the present invention, it is believedthat it will be unnecessary to illustrate the same.

One of the side frames 11 is provided with two parallel studs or pins 15which have mounted thereon, a movable frame 16.

This frame has pivoted to the lower end thereof, at 17, an oscillatinglever 18, the lower end of which is provided with a roller 19 extendinginto a cam path in the periphery of the cam disk 13.

This slotted lever 18 is provided with a movable fulcrum 20 which may beadjusted by the hand lever 21, to vary the movement of the frame 16, allas described in the Patent No. 1,133,147 issued March 23, 1915, toLawrence E. Johnson, and myself and on which the present invention is animprovement.

The frame 16 has a long bearing formed therein in which is mounted ashaft 22 having secured to one end a radial arm 23 and having secured onits opposite end a disk 24 on which is mounted a needle guide 25. Thisneedle guide 25 has an opening therein through which the curved needle26 is adapted to move.

The needle 26 is mounted upon the support 27 having a segment of a gear28 formed thereon and an awl 29 secured thereto.

The needle support 27 is provided with a tubular sleeve surroundingtheshaft 22 in the long bearing in the frame 16 about the axis of which itis adapted to be oscillated by the lever 30 having formed thereon at oneend, a gear segment 81 meshing with the gear segment 28.

The teeth of the gear segment 31 are of sufficient length to permit theteeth of the gear segment 28 to remain constantly in mesh during themovement of the frame 16 in either direction.

The lever 30 is pivoted at 32 to an end frame 11 and is provided at itsrear end with a roller 33 in the cam path 34 formed in the cam disk 35secured to and revoluble with the shaft 12.

During the rotation of the disk 35, the cam path 34 operates upon theroller 33 to give the required movement to the needle segment at theproper time.

The lever 30 is provided with an upwardly extending lateral arm 36 tothe upper end of which is pivoted a link 37, the opposite end of whichis articulated to a lever 38 having formed on its opposite end a. loopspreader 39 secured to an oscillating shaft or pin 40 mounted in theupper end of the movable frame 16.

The forward end of the spreader 39 is curved downwardly as indicated inFig. 2 of the drawings.

This mechanism provides a simple means for spreading the loop of threadat the proper time for the hook or the shuttle to enter the same all asdescribed in the patent above referred to.

The oscillating shaft or pin 40 is provided with a radial arm 41 to theouter end of which is secured at 42 the curved upper end 43 of a link44, the lower end of which is pivoted at 45 to the outer end of theradial arm 23 secured to the oscillating shaft 22.

It is obvious from an inspection of the drawings, that the needle 26,the guide 25, and loop spreader 39 are all positively actuated by thesame cam 35 and maintain the same positions relative to each otherthroughout the various operations of the machine.

This has been found in practice to be greatly desirable in order thatthe needle guide may be positively moved into the required position tosupport the needle when such support is most needed without the use ofsprings or other instrumentalities.

It is evident that springs and similar devices are liable to get outoforder and fail to operate thereby leaving the needle unsupported andmaking it possible for the needle to become broken in the operation ofthe machine, and this is particularly true in high speed stitchers.

By means of the present invention, this objection is entirely overcome.

By making the upper portion of the link 44 curved as a 43, there will beno interference with the oscillating shaft or pin 40 by the link 44during the oscillations of the lateral arm 41.

By extending the lateral arm 42 upwardly from the oscillating shaft orpin 40 and having the lateral arm 23 extending rearwardly from theoscillating shaft 22, a peculiar movement is imparted to the needleguide during the operation of the needle 26;

The highest position of the needle 26 is indicated in Fig. 1 of thedrawings and the lowest position of said needle is indicated in Fig. 2of the drawings.

In the diagrams Figs. 3 to 5 inclusive, several intermediate positionsof the needle and needle guide are indicated.

l/Vhen the needle is in its lowest position, the pivot 42 will be in theposition indicated at a in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

l/Vhen said pivot is moved into the position indicated at b in Fig. 3,the needle 26 will be raised slightly without raising the needle guideto any appreciable extent.

In other words, at this time the needle is drawing the thread throughthe work and requires to be supported at a point adjacent to the workand this result is accomplished by the mechanism herein provided.

When the pivot member 42 is moved to the position a in Fig. 4 of thedrawings, the needle moves up and the needle guide moves upwardly atconsiderably less speed than the speed of movement of the needle. Forinstance, the pivot member 42 in moving through an angle of 20 onlymoves the pivot member 45 through an angle of 7-3 lVhen the pivot 42reaches the position (Z in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the needle movesstill farther up and the needle guide moves in the same direction at aslower speed.

The pivot member 42 in passing through an angle of 174 only imparts amovement to the pivot member 45 through an angle or" 102 Continuedmovement of the pivot member 42 in the direction of the arrow 6 on Fig.5 of the drawings will cause the needle 26 and needle guide 25 to moveupwardly into the position indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings with theneedle moving a little faster than the needle guide so that when theneedle reaches its uppermost position the needle guide is positionednear the barb thereof.

By means of this construction the needle and the needle guide arepositively driven by means of the same cam-controlled lever and theneedle guide is moved at a speed varying with the speed of the needlewhereby the needle guide at all times maintains a position relative tothe needle which is most advantageous for the proper operation of themachine.

In the highspeed stitcher, the rate of speed is so great that theleather is liable to burn slightly where the awl punctures it and theneedle is liable to become coated with burnt leather and stick.

This would cause the breaking of the needle and injury to the work asthe needle would not be supported when it was piercin%the leather.

y providing positive means for actuating the needle guide this objectionis wholly obviated.

It is believed that the operation and its many advantages will be fullyunderstood without further description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim-- 1. In a shoe-sewingmachine, the combination of a needle; a needle guide; and a single meansfor actuating said needle and guide positively and continuously at varying speeds.

2. In a shoe-sewing machine, the combination of a needle; operatingmechanism therefor including a cam-controlled lever; a needle guide; andmeans actuated by said lever for imparting a positive and continuousmovement to said needle guide at varying speeds.

3. In a shoe-sewing machine, the combi nation of a needle; operatingmechanism therefor including a cam-controlled lever; a needle guide; apivot therefor; an actuating arm on said pivot; an oscillating shaft; alever on said shaft connected to said camcontrolled lever; a radial armon said oscillating shaft; and a link connecting said radial arm andsaid actuating arm.

4c. In a shoe-sewing machine, the combination of a needle; operatingmechanism therefor including a cam-controlled lever; a needle guide; apivot therefor; a rearwardly extending actuating arm on said pivot; anoscillating shaft; an upwardly extending lever on said shaft connectedto said cam-controlled lever; an upwardly extending radialarm on saidoscillating shaft; and a link connecting said radial arm and saidrearwardly extending actuating arm.

5. In a shoe-sewing machine, the combination of a needle; a carriertherefor; a needle guide; a cam-controlled lever; and means operable bysaid lever for actuating said needle carrier and the guide thereforpositively and continuously at varying speeds.

6. In a shoe-sewing machine, the combination of a needle; a carriertherefor having a segment of a pinion formed thereon; a needle guide; acam-controlled lever provided with a gear segment meshing with saidpinion segment and having a lateral arm; an oscillating pivot pin; alever thereon; a link between said lever and lateral arm; a radial armon said pivot pin; and means pivoted to said radial arm for positivelyactuating said needle guide.

7. In a shoe-sewing machine, the combina tion of a needle; operatingmechanism therefor including a cam-controlled lever; a loopspreadercomprising a tapered finger operating in a plane parallel to the needle;a needle guide; and means operable by said camcontrolled lever forsimultaneously moving said loop-spreader and needle guide positively andat varying speeds.

8. In a shoe-sewing machine, the combination of a needle; operatingmechanismtherefor including a cam-controlled lever; a loop-, spreadercomprising a tapered finger operating in a plane parallel to the needle;a needle guide; an oscillating pivot member for said loop-spreader; anarm secured to said pivot member; an actuating arm for said needleguide; a link connecting said arms; and means operable by saidcam-controlled lever for simultaneously moving said loop-spreader andneedle guide.

9. In a shoe-sewing machine, the combination of a needle; operatingmechanism. thereforincluding a cam-controlled lever; a. loop-spreadercomprising a tapered finger operating in a plane parallel to the needle;a needle guide; an oscillating pivot memher for said loop-spreader; anarm secured to said pivot member; an actuating arm for said needleguide; a link connecting said arms curved at its upper end to clear saidpivot member; and means operable by said cam-controlled lever forsimultaneously movin said loop-spreader and needle guide.

10. In a. shoe-sewing machine, the combination of a needle; operatingmechanism therefor including a cam-controlled lever;

a loop-spreader comprising a tapered finger operating in a planeparallel to the needle; a needle guide; an oscillating pivot member forsaid loop spreader; an upwardly extending arm secured to said pivotmember; an actuating arm for said needle guide extending rearwardly fromthe pivot thereof; a link connecting said arms; and means operable bysaid cam-controlled lever for simultaneously moving said loop-spreaderand needle guide.

Signed by me at 7464 Old South Bldg, Boston, Mass, this 29th day ofNovem ber, 1919.

EDWARD ERICKSON. Witnesses:

WALTER E. LOMBARD, NATHAN C. LOMBARD.

